Investment In RuneScape IP Drives Second Successive Year Of Double-Digit Growth

INVESTMENT IN RUNESCAPE IP DRIVES SECOND SUCCESSIVE YEAR OF DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH AS JAGEX ACHIEVES RECORD PERFORMANCE WITH REVENUES UP 28% TO £74.4M.

New corporate identity and logo revealed as Jagex transforms into the western arm of a global games group as part of Fukong Interactive Entertainment, previously named ZhongJi Holding*

Jagex today reported its second successive financial year of record revenue performance driven by content, technology and marketing investment in the RuneScape IP. Continuing the upward trend from financial year 2015, Jagex delivered double-digit growth during the financial year ending 31st December 2016 with revenues achieving 28 per cent year-on-year growth to a new high of £74.4m. Profit after tax saw growth to £28.8m, while profits excluding exceptional costs were £37.8m, representing growth of 21.5% and 50% respectively over FY 2015, itself a record year that saw revenues of £57.9m; revenues for FY 2014 were £44.9m.

Phil Mansell, Jagex’s COO and acting CEO, said:

“2016 saw RuneScape celebrate its 15th anniversary and we placed a razor focus on evolving and growing both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape. Through investment in big ticket content, technology, marketing and strengthening the relationship we enjoy with millions of players that form our deeply-engaged community, the team delivered landmark performance by growing active users, conversion rates and subscribers.”

“It was also a year in which Jagex was united with Fukong Interactive Entertainment, previously named ZhongJi Holding, and began its transformation into the western arm of a global gaming group. Flourishing under this new ownership, Jagex has increased funding toward in-house projects and is exploring opportunities to invest in complementary ventures.”

Signalling the transformation, Jagex also revealed a refreshed corporate identity as a visual symbol of the company’s evolution. Headlined by an impactful new logo, the identity is business and consumer facing with placement on the refreshed jagex.com site and across the company’s corporate marketing and social materials.

RUNESCAPE & OLD SCHOOL RUNESCAPE AT HEART OF FY16 SUCCESS

In FY 2016, RuneScape, Jagex’s flagship Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) celebrated its 15th year of delivering enthralling adventures for its player base, and welcomed the 250 millionth player account to the game world. Constantly engaging and continually evolving, RuneScape also introduced NXT, an all-new proprietary visual engine and game client, which delivered a total graphical overhaul and a raft of technical improvements to the game. In August 2016, RuneScape revealed a vast archipelago of undiscovered islands forming a new in-game continent: The Eastern Lands.

The RuneScape IP also saw growth in Old School RuneScape, the authentically vintage edition of the game, which takes players back in time to experience the MMORPG as it was in 2007. With a unique long-form approach to competitive gaming events, Old School became an outstanding player in eSports. Old School’s Deadman tournaments consistently delivered a high-profile competitive gaming audience, making it one of the most-watched games on live streams and the number one MMORPG in competitive gaming.

“With a 16-year world class reputation for running free-to-play games in live operations, Jagex is now building a pathway for franchise extension, innovation and creativity,” continued Mansell. “We will continue to invest in our live games, which includes the introduction of Menaphos: The Golden City, the first in series of major expansions for RuneScape. We will also capitalise on Old School RuneScape’s increased popularity with content and marketing, including the expansion of its successful competitive gaming event programme. In addition to the live titles, we are looking to expand the franchise to new devices and titles, while also investing in developing original IP to reach new audiences.”